Paddling in the Watersheds
We protect what we love - so each season, Two Rivers Coalition invites you to paddle the rivers and lakes of southwest Michigan, discovering their beauty, learning about the local ecology, and building a deeper connection to the watersheds we call home.
It has been said that we protect only what we love, so we want people to love their watersheds. To foster that love affair, TRC offers paddling trips during the warmer seasons to bring paddlers to the waterways to learn more about the watersheds.
We partner with Van Buren Conservation District to support “Paddling with a Naturalist” on inland lakes to learn about our lakes and many of its plants (good and bad).
The past few years we have been offering a June paddle trip on the Paw Paw River to learn about and observe Prothonotary Warblers. These birds are indicator species of the flood plain forest and signal that the habitat and hydrology are functioning ecologically. This is planned for early June to coincide with the nesting of the warblers along the river. Please check the events calendar page for planned date.
Near the end of the warmer season, we sponsor a paddling trip to the lower Black River to enjoy the fall colors. The fall colors generally peak near the 3rd week of October, so our trip is planned for the 3rd or 4th Sunday in October. Please check the events calendar page for planned date.
On Facebook, the “Paw Paw River Paddle Club” is a social outlet to join paddlers on the Paw Paw River and the “Paw Paw River Water Trail” Facebook page keeps the communities informed on water trail events.
Follow Two Rivers Coalition on Facebook to receive details of paddling events.
Two Rivers Coalition Paddling Trips encourages paddlers to be good stewards of our waterways by following the Leave No Trace principals.
We also want all paddlers to be safe on the waters, so personal floatation is required on our trips.
The American Canoe Association provides good safety reminders and training guidance so please utilize these resources to improve your paddling and safety on the water.
Cold Water Overview | cold water safety
Paw Paw River Water Level Gage (USGS), Riverside, MI
The TRC Paddling map shows waypoints for access to rivers and lakes. Green waypoints on the rivers indicate easier sections after pathways are cut through tree falls. Yellow waypoints on the rivers indicate intermediate sections after pathways are cut through tree falls. Red waypoints on the rivers indicate advanced sections where no pathways are cut through tree falls. Blue waypoints are for access sites on lakes. During times with low water levels, paddling is more difficult due to trees typically underwater that are now above water and creating paddling obstructions. The water levels are typically lower in July-September.
Public Rights on Michigan Waters
This document is offered as a guide to how water rights came to be and the current state of the law. This information has been compiled for convenience in answering common questions regarding water law in the State of Michigan. This material highlights the evolution of court decisions and legislative enactments dealing with water and related legal issues. The manual discusses the court's role in defining and shaping Michigan water law. The "floating log test," the "recreation-boating test" and other terms pertinent to water law are discussed and defined.
